Drink more water... that's pretty much it. Simple right? Well, yes it is for some of us, but for a lot of us, staying hydrated and 'drinking more water' can be more difficult than you think.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE DEHYDRATED?
Dehydration is so common but really something that we need to improve. It can cause so many problems and it can easily be fixed.
If you're dehydrated, you might experience...
dry, dull and lacklustre skin
headaches
constipation
cramp in your muscles
fevers and chills
feeling tired
plus so many more symptoms...
A good way to check your hydration levels is by looking at your urine (ideally it is very light in colour and not dark) and there is also the 'pinch test'. If you pinch the back of your hand your skin should bounce back easily. If it is quite slow, you might be dehydrated. If you're unsure though, always check with your GP.
TIPS TO STAY HYDRATED
So here is what you came for! All the tips I can think of to help you stay hydrated throughout the day - even if you hate drinking water...
BUY A BEAUTIFUL BOTTLE
Yes this probably sounds rather materialistic but being able to carry around an aesthetically pleasing water bottle always helps. If you keep a bottle in your bag or by your desk, you're more likely to drink than if you don't. I love these bottles as you can create your own custom style to suit your taste too.
MAKE A DETOX WATER
Find water bland? Why not try making a 'detox water'. You can add to your water fresh (or frozen) fruits, vegetables or herbs.
You could try...
Lemon & Ginger
Cucumber & mint
Lemon & lime
Lemon & parsley
Orange & lime
TAKE A HERBAL TEA INSTEAD
Is water too cold in Winter? Why not buy a large flask that stores hot drinks and fill it with a herbal tea such as lemon and ginger or peppermint to sip on throughout the day. Or you could even infuse a herbal tea bag into cold water too and have an ice tea instead.
CHOOSE HYDRATING FOODS
Instead of snacking on dry foods, why not try something that contains a lot of water such as watermelon or cucumber. This is a great way of hydrating your body and getting nutrients in at the same time
DOWNLOAD AN APP
There is an app for pretty much everything nowadays and yes, there is even an app to remind you to drink water. If your reason is that you just forget, this might help you a lot.
DRINK BEFORE YOU SNACK
Sometimes we can feel hungry, but we are actually dehydrated instead. Before you reach for a packet of crisps, have a glass of water first, you might just be thirsty.
HYDRATE YOUR BODY WITH SUPPLEMENTS
HYDRATION Inner Beauty Boost by The Beauty Chef is a great way to add hydration to your body. You can take up to four portions a day if you're very dehydrated. It's great because it contains fermented coconut and cucumber water which are both packed with electrolytes. Along with magnesium, finger lime and trace minerals too. Plus not forgetting, as they are all fermented, you are getting a daily dose of probiotics as well so it's great for your gut health.
I hope you have found this useful,
Thank you so much for reading,
Lots of love,
Emmaline x